Hairston starts Game 1; McGehee in Game 2?

The Brewers’ full lineup is not yet out, but manager Ron Roenicke revealed his plan for third base: Jerry Hairston Jr. will start Game 1 over the slumping Casey McGehee, who has manned the position regularly over the past three seasons.

“Why? I just think that [Hairston] has been swinging the bat better,” Roenicke said.

Hairston is 0-for-5 lifetime against Kennedy and McGehee 0-for-7. Roenicke hinted that McGehee would get the nod in Game 2 on Sunday against right-hander Daniel Hudson, against whom McGehee is 5-for-5 with a double and a homer.

Roenicke informed both McGehee and Hairston of his plans on Friday, when the Brewers took batting practice at Miller Park. But, in a strategy befitting his tight-lipped mentor, Angels manager Mike Scioscia, Roenicke would not make the plan public until the morning of Game 1. Likewise, he would not commit Saturday to starting McGehee in Game 2.

Was it a tough conversation with McGehee?

“It wasn’t tough telling Casey because we’ve had a lot of conversations in the last week or two on what’s going on,” Roenicke said. “Casey wants to win. Whatever it takes for us to put the best team out there to have a chance to win, that’s what he wants. He’s very comfortable and confident coming off the bench, which we need — a right-handed pinch-hitter. With all that, and him thinking the way he’s been thinking lately, I think this was a good option to go.”

Roenicke also said Nyjer Morgan would be back in center field today. Morgan sat the Brewers’ final two regular season games after fouling two pitches off his right lower leg on Monday night.

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